Mullins, Flora McDonald dazzle in nail-biter

The Mullins Auctioneers got what they asked for Monday night when they took on a North Carolina basketball team. After trailing the entire first half and running behind by 11 points, they were able to prevail with an 88-84 victory.

When Mullins basketball Head Coach Mark Gerald discussed a varsity boys basketball game with Flora McDonald Academy Head Coach Derrick Bond, both coaches agreed that theirs could be a good match-up for the stars of their programs.

The Aucs marquee players, Eric Smith, Stacy Wilson and Seqwan McFarland would go up against the Cougars trio of Lateem McMullen, Luke Cothron and Joel Kindred. It shaped up to be a dream bout Monday night in Mullins.

“From talking to other people that saw them play, we found out they were pretty good, and that’s what we’re trying to do this year, play some good teams,” Gerald said. Cothron, a 6’8” power forward is among the top players in the 2010 recruiting class, along with Aucs point guard Smith, but he was unable to attend the game in Mullins.

“We only had one game opening and Coach Bond agreed to come." Gerald said the varsity team from Red Springs, N.C. plays in the same league that features the nation’s highest rated prep basketball player, Jon Wall of Word of God Academy in Raleigh, N.C.

The two teams ended the first quarter with FMA ahead 18-16 in an up-tempo game dominated by guard play.

McMullen’s deft ball handling skills allowed him to attack the Aucs defense at-will, either going unscathed to the hoop or dishing out assist to his marksmen shooters on the perimeter.

Smith’s three pointer nailed at the buzzer was the morale boost needed by an Auctioneer team caught off-guard by the Cougars speed and quickness on both ends of the floor, rival to the home team.

McMullen caught fire with 12 points scored in the second quarter as FMA took a 31-20 lead with 5:01 remaining in the first half. However, Qwan McFarland willed his Aucs team back into contention, crashing the boards on the offensive end for second chance points. Darnell Coleman’s offensive rebound production and critical free throws help trimmed the deficit along with three pointers nailed by Wilson and Smith, setting up a 43-38 halftime score.

The key to the Auctioneer comeback was the play of reserve guard Jeremy Leggette and his 13 points scored off the bench. Leggette also tested the endurance of the Cougars backcourt with his defensive intensity and relentless attack on offense.

Mullins took their first lead on the strength of a 10-2 run nearly four minutes into the third quarter. FMA battled back down 53-51 at the 3:44 mark until Smith’s dish to Wilson for a three pointer. McMullen answered by knocking down a trey in back-to-back trips up the floor. The Cougars regained control after a two-hand tomahawk dunk and air reverse follow-up from Kindred, giving his squad a 65-59 advantage.

However, Leggette fired-up his team once again with a baseline jumper in the closing seconds, setting up a 67-61 score heading into the final quarter. To start the fourth quarter, Leggette ignited a six point run with a dribble drive and finish. Both teams tried to put each other away as the game was tied on three occasions within a three-minute span. McFarland gave his team an 80-79 lead after scoring a basket and ensuing foul shot.

McFarland then followed a Wilson free throw with an offensive putback, giving the Aucs an 83-79 lead with under a minute remaining in the game. A key rebound from Leggette, lay-up by Smith, and steal from Wilson secured the win in what turned out to the most intense and exhausting 32 minutes played Mullins in the first five games of the season.

McMullen lead all scorers with 26 points, followed by 22 points from Kindred, and 17 points from Jeff Wherry. C.J. Lattimore added nine points, followed by seven points from Devon Ivey.

Smith led the Auctioneers with 21 points to go along with 18 points from Stacy Wilson. McFarland produced with 17 points and eight rebounds.